5 Stocks Going Ex-Dividend Tomorrow: JE, SLGN, FHN, PTEN, M

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Tomorrow, March 13, 2013, 88 U.S. common stocks are scheduled to go ex-dividend. The dividend yields on these stocks range from 0.2% to 15.8%. All of these stocks can be found on our stocks going ex-dividend section of our dividend calendar.

Owners of Just Energy Group (NYSE: JE) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 10 cents per share. At a price of $7.55 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 15.8%.

The average volume for Just Energy Group has been 535,200 shares per day over the past 30 days. Just Energy Group has a market cap of $1.1 billion and is part of the utilities industry. Shares are down 21.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

Owners of Silgan Holdings (NASDAQ: SLGN) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 14 cents per share. At a price of $45.68 as of 9:33 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.2%.

The average volume for Silgan Holdings has been 323,600 shares per day over the past 30 days. Silgan Holdings has a market cap of $2.9 billion and is part of the consumer non-durables industry. Shares are up 10% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

Silgan Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries engage in the manufacture and sale of rigid packaging for consumer goods products worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.86. Currently there are 2 analysts that rate Silgan Holdings a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 7 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Silgan Holdings as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, increase in stock price during the past year and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. You can view the full Silgan Holdings Ratings Report now.

Owners of First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 5 cents per share. At a price of $11.22 as of 9:35 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.8%.

The average volume for First Horizon National has been 3.2 million shares per day over the past 30 days. First Horizon National has a market cap of $2.7 billion and is part of the banking industry. Shares are up 13.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

First Horizon National Corporation operates as a bank holding company for First Tennessee Bank National Association that provides various financial services. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. Currently there are 7 analysts that rate First Horizon National a buy, 2 analysts rate it a sell, and 9 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates First Horizon National as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, increase in net income and growth in earnings per share. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company's return on equity has been disappointing. You can view the full First Horizon National Ratings Report now.

Owners of Patterson-UTI Energy (NASDAQ: PTEN) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 5 cents per share. At a price of $24.34 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 0.8%.

The average volume for Patterson-UTI Energy has been 3.4 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Patterson-UTI Energy has a market cap of $3.5 billion and is part of the energy industry. Shares are up 29.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides onshore contract drilling services to major and independent oil and natural gas operators in the United States and Canada. The company has a P/E ratio of 12.30. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Patterson-UTI Energy a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 8 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Patterson-UTI Energy as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, attractive valuation levels, solid stock price performance, good cash flow from operations and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had somewhat weak growth in earnings per share. You can view the full Patterson-UTI Energy Ratings Report now.

Owners of Macy's (NYSE: M) shares as of market close today will be eligible for a dividend of 20 cents per share. At a price of $41.64 as of 9:36 a.m. ET, the dividend yield is 1.9%.

The average volume for Macy's has been 5.3 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Macy's has a market cap of $16.5 billion and is part of the retail industry. Shares are up 6.9% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday.

Macy's, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates stores and Internet Websites in the United States. Its retail stores and Internet Web sites sell a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. The company has a P/E ratio of 12.04. Currently there are 9 analysts that rate Macy's a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 4 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Macy's as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, revenue growth, notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. You can view the full Macy's Ratings Report now.

One benefit of owning a stock is the potential that you will be paid a dividend. The distribution of dividend payments is another way for a company to share its profit with you. A dividend means that the company pays you a certain amount of money, either as a one-time payment or more commonly on a quarterly basis, for each share of stock you own.

Many times, dividends come at the expense of greater price appreciation, because the company is distributing its profits to shareholders rather than reinvesting the profits back into the growth of the company. However, companies that pay dividends can be very attractive to investors when they offer a steady stream of income. There are some important terms and dates an investor should be familiar with before purchasing any dividend-paying companies. Let's work through an example to help better explain some of these terms:

On March 1, ABC Widget Company has decided that because it holds excess cash and lacks investment opportunities, it would like to reward shareholders with a regular quarterly dividend payment. The date for this particular announcement is known as the declaration date. It is on this date that the company announces the specific dividend payment along with the holder of record date (aka record date) and the payment date. The company announces that a dividend payment of 25 cents per share will be payable March 31, 2012 (the payment date) to all shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2012 (holder of record date). What does this all mean? Well the short story is that the company looks at its records on March 16 and anyone listed on the books as an owner of ABC Widget company will be eligible for the dividend payment (on March 31).

The one other important term to remember is the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date (typically two trading days before the holder of record date for U.S. securities) is the day in which a company begins trading without the dividend. In order to have a claim on a dividend, shares must be purchased no later than the last business day before the ex-dividend date. A company trading ex-dividend will have the upcoming dividend subtracted from the share price at the start of the trading day. Many times, the price of a stock will increase in anticipation of the upcoming dividend as the ex-dividend date approaches, yet will fall back by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date.

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.